46-Special-D "NOOOOOB

[46-Special-D]

Hey guys and Gals.

Just thought Id introduce myself and the latest project. I have been a Mopar fan for a good while now and have slowly gotten my wife to jump on board.

I have been working on my 1969 Plymouth Valiant for a good while now and was told that the next car was hers! LOL

So over the last year or so I met the owner of a local Hot Rod shop and have become pretty good friends with him. He had this 46 Special Deluxe that he was wanting to sell off. Long Story short it is soon to be my wifes old classic.

Plans are very loosely set as a resto mod. Because her and my son will be in it most of the time, I want it to have power steering and brakes. So I have throwing the idea around of channeling the body over an S-10 frame or possibly a Dakota frame.

Id like to do a modern style frame so I can salvage all the electrics and possibly even have A/C.

After picking the car over a few times now, I have realized there are only several pieces that are a definite "need".

Front wing windows

Radio (hole in the dash)

Rear "quarter" windows

Dash cluster with gauges

Glove box door.

I plan to make this a mild Kustom.

Plans this far include, lake pipes, fender skirts, multiple frenched items, white walls, and maybe the stock wheels and caps. Paint will be Black, with red striping done by "Igor" here in VB.

Lastly, expect to hear many questions from me, and most likely some parts swapping that you purists may not care for! LOL Not meaning to offend, but I love old Kustom style, and not all the orig. parts will pull it off!

You guys seem to have a good informative site going here and thx for allowing me to be a part of it.

Donnie:D

[steveplym]

Welcome to the site Donnie. I'm sure you'll find lots of good info here. Looks like you got a good project going there. I enjoy the mild customs too. I like the original looks, but enjoy all kinds of customs as they show the owners creativity. Good luck with your project.

[randroid]

Donnie,

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you've given some good thought to your project and, while I personally won't be able to offer much help, you'll find some interesting opinions flung your way.

Good luck!

-Randy

[46-Special-D]

Well, it has finally made it home. I have obviously been blessed with my wife! She is super excited to have it and wants it done so she can drive it. She even said "I dont have to have a great paint job right away" LOL

We'll see how long that lasts huh.

Well, I have done a bit more research and have found that a long bed S-10 is with-in a 1" difference concerning wheel base.

If I have pulled the correct info.

The Special D is 118.5" WB

The S-10 is 117" I am pretty sure I can deal with this fairly easy. Fabrication isnt an issue so, we shall see what happens.

Wish me luck!!!!!

[greg g]

Make sure you check all the information on the host page that supports the forum. Lotsa good stuff there on parts and maint. Most of us here would rather see the car kept all mopar so many would suggest the Dakota option, but It boils down to the fact that its yours and your project so go for it. Another mopar on the road si aslway a good thing.

[james curl]

I have seen a 40 Ford coupe channeled over an S 10 frame and the results was not pretty. The car was not much lower than any 40 Ford with a dropped axel and longer rear shackles while having very little interior space because the S 10 frame sits much higher than the 40 Ford frame. His seats were only about 5" high above the floor and he sat with his legs straight out. Tim Adams here on the forum has done a 48 and a 51 plymouth both with Dakota front clips and they are plenty low. Tim is doing a business coupe that will even have a working airbag when finished. Why don't you send Tim a P.M. and see if he will not show you some of his pictures of the cars he is working on. He has lots of knowledge about modifiying Plymouths.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Thank you James, in regard to the Dakota, it is a front clip..very very rugged and safe as you stuff one frame inside the other..no butts...there is no modification to the rear of the frame as you retain the stock configuartion so that mean no altering tip-ups and such and all but the most forward body mounts are undisturbed..these are quickly transferred to the Dakota clip..the clip is so close in actual dimesions of the original frame it is not funny...actual ride height is 3/4 inch lower in the front..with stock components..I suggest the use of the Dakota rear gear and stock Dakota rims..Dakota spindles are available in LOWERED VESION if you second job is scraping road surfaces for the county..

HOWEVER..this is invasive..no return once started...there are other ways that are cost effective also but without going deep in the pocket...any and all these mods will cost if you have to farm it out..D_I_Y and you get away nice, cosider the Fatman lowering spindles, shock relocation, disc brakes and the TRW R&P on a original frame with new king pins and bushings..you be in like Flynn, low bucks and solid ride..well engineered and REVERSABLE...I do not recommend the Fatman MSII front suspension at the avg. 2400.00 cost because the also have to sell you a 600.00 frame stubs so to be able to mount this..gets hectic and costly quick..

IF you have your heart set on the GM subframe be very careful as to the way you butt and weld, second to wheel opening and frame height as the GM clip can really alter the appearance of the car and give you a wheel gap that screams I've been modified and this is also a reason the S10 frame job is not the wisest of moves..just way too much work and even though it is close in size etc, it does show up as altered to the most casual observer..

[james curl]

Tim knows what he is talking about, I have seen too many cars mounted on S 10 frames and most look pretty bad. On the other hand I have seen several pick ups mounted on S 10 frames or Dakota frames and they look O.K. because the stock pick up frame was higher off of the ground than the new frame.